2017 Issue 4

Dear Congregants, A version of the article below appeared in our Shul Bulletin–twice–shortly after I began my tenure here at LJCAGBI. I am sharing a revised copy–again–at this time, because it still rings true. Plus, only two people commented on it in the past. If we want our Shul to grow and thrive, it is essential that we expand our membership. I welcome your comments and look forward to having more dialogues with you on this and other forward-thinking subjects. Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful and most enjoyable summer,

Rabbi James M. Gordon, J.D._____________________________________________________________Hungarian Kosher Foods 1.2 miles Slice of Life 2.3 miles Tel Aviv Kosher Bakery 2.4 miles Rosenblum’s World of Judaica 3.7 milesWinston Towers 1.2 miles Edens Expressway 1.0 miles”Ida Crown Jewish Academy 2.0 miles —Google MapsQuestion: What is the best place in the world (outside of Israel) for a committed Jew to live?My Answer: Within a one-mile+ radius of Lincolnwood Jewish Congre-gation A.G. Beth Israel. I say this with all sincerity, with the personal experience of having lived in other fine Jewish communities, along with the familiarity of other com-

Lincolnwood Jewish CongregationA.G. Beth Israel

BULLETIN

July/August 2017Table of Contents

Rabbi ’s Message 1, 4, 5 President’s Perspective 2Announcements 3 & 5Schedule of Services 6-7 May-June Calendar 8 Schedule of Classes 8Shul Officers 2017-18 9Sisterhood 10-11

The Three Weeks 12

Asst. Rabbi: James Gordon

Rabbi Emeritus: Joel Lehrfield

LJCAGBI BulletinJuly/August 2017, Issue No. 4.

Published bi-monthlyexcept for holidays (6-7 issues per year)

Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation A.G. Beth Israel, 7117 North Craw-ford Ave., Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712

Phone: 847-676-0491

www.ljcagbi.org

Rabbi Gordon’s Message

Continued on page 4

President’s Perspective

Page 2

Thank you for choosing me to be the president of LJCAGBI. I am honored to be selected as the first woman to serve in this office and hope to be the first of many. Having grown up at this Shul, I have had all of my life-cycle events within its walls. Having served on the board for more than a decade, this Shul also has an important role in my daily life right now. The future of the Shul and the people who attend it are the focus of this position and I hope that my term can be one of openness, candor and courtesy. What is the purpose of a Shul? It is a place to pray, to learn, to visit with old friends and hopefully make new ones. It is the religious and cultural hub of our community. I hope that we will continue to serve the needs of the Shul in all of its different aspects, but that depends on all of us. In order to be a fulfilling place, we need participation in order to pray. We need educational classes and programs to be offered and people to attend them. We want interesting and engaging social activities to share their enjoyment with our Shul community. What we need most is a sense of community. We need civility. We need courtesy. We need to understand that we can have different viewpoints and even different politics but that it doesn’t have to create an atmosphere of hostility or animosity. For this Shul to survive and even thrive we need to regain our desire to WANT to be part of this congregation and to encourage others to come as well, because it is a warm and friendly place. Our federal and state governments have become polarized to a degree that they cannot accomplish the will of the people to govern. They have lost the ability to listen, understand, negotiate and most of all to govern. For the coming year, I hope that OUR Shul can keep in mind that when we think in terms of what “I” want without listening to—and seriously considering—the person next to us and what they want (and why), we lose sight of what is important—what “we” the Shul NEED and how to accomplish it together. My prayer for the coming year is “Sim Shalom”:

“Establish peace, good and blessings, life, grace and kindness, and compassion upon us and upon all Israel.”

Wishing you all a most enjoyable summer,Marcia Kramer, President

A special Mazel tov to the grandparents, Debby & Mort Goodman, and Henely & Mel Kramer.

{ Mazel tov to Renee & Dr. Joe Silberman on the marriage of their son Ricky to Adina Minkowitz. Also a mazel tov on Matthew’s graduation from Princeton and Adina’s gradu-ation from dental school.

{ Mazel tov to Dr. Howard & Roberta Vernof on the birth of a granddaughter, Mirel Itah/Jordyn Alexis, born to Jessica & Michael Vernof.

{ Mazel tov to Sharlene & Mort Zelickman on the engagement of their granddaugh-ter, Ashira Weiner (daughter of Lori & David Weiner).

{ Mazel tov to honored grandparents, Joc-elyn & Sid Verson and Uncle David Verson, on the Bar Mitzvah of Jack Baum in Englewood, NJ.

Lots more Annoucements on page 5

MAZEL TOV

{ Mazel tov to Helaine Ellenby on the Bat Mitzvah of her granddaughter, Aliza Rose Ellenby, (daughter of Robin & Miles Ellenby) and on the graduation of her granddaughter Jennifer Ellenby (daughter of Susan & Alan El-lenby) from Kent Law School.

{ Mazel tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Mark Gutman on marriage of their son Erik to Areilla Berger and the engagement of their daughter Alana to Efraim Wakschlag.

{ Mazel tov to Marcia & Paul Kramer on the graduation of their daughter, Mollie, from Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. She will be spending a gap year in Israel through Young Ju-daea’s Year Course then attending Univ. of Illinois.

Announcements

Join and Play the “Fortune 50” Game!Sponsored by Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation A.G. Beth Israel

ONLY $50 PER ENTRY WIN $100 WITH EVERY DRAWING TWO DRAWINGS PER WEEK FOR 25 WEEKS WINNING NUMBERS RE-ENTERED AFTER EVERY DRAWING CAN POTENTIALLY WIN UP TO $5000!

Maximum of 500 numbers will be issues. There will be 50 drawings, 2 drawings per week for 25 consecutive weeks. The winning number will be re-entered after each drawing; you may win as many times as your entry number is drawn. Numbers are selected 001-500 on a first come basis. Winners need not be present to win.

Drawings start with the New Year—Rosh Hashana 5778

Contact the Shul office to get your entry and your favorite number today!

Rabbi’s Gordon’s Message—continued from page 1

Page 4

munities culled from multiple extended visits. As someone who has lived in West Rogers Park (WRP), Skokie, Northbrook, and Buffalo Grove—all communities which I enjoyed very much, I find that Lincol-nwood is the superior option for committed Jews, since we offer everything that these villages/neighbor-hoods do—plus more. While being familiar with other major cities with large Jewish communities such as New York and Los Angeles from my many stays there, I feel that the greater-Chicagoland area offers all that these two great cities offer, but on a smaller, more heimishe scale. What amenities does our community offer that none of the four Chicago-area communities cited above offer in their totality? Here are four such factors: (1) Location, Location, LocationIn addition to the close proximity to Jewish day schools, kosher food establishments and Jewish bookstores, our LJC AGBI community is centrally located to all of the Jewish communities (south of the Hebrew Theo-logical College and north of Hollywood Park). On multiple Shabbatot I have walked with my children to visit friends in Skokie, WRP, Peterson Park, and other parts of Lincolnwood. We are also centrally located by car to both the Loop as well as the northern/northwest suburbs. (2) Fishbowl or No Fishbowl? Your ChoiceOne of my favorite wall hangings is a framed poster that hangs outside my study at home depicting a large goldfish staring at a fishbowl containing a scrunched-up cat. Like the fish, I prefer to do the staring. While I enjoy immensely living in a Jewish area, I also like my space. Unlike some densely populated Jewish areas, in our neighborhood we can live a fully committed Jewish life without the feeling of having others watching everything we do. (While my goal is to entice many Jewish families to move to our community, there is still plenty of room in our neighborhood to retain that “non-fishbowl” feeling. And, if we are truly successful and become a densely-populated Jewish community, wouldn’t having a fishbowl be a wonderful “challenge” with which to deal?) Among the quotes of the famous search engine cited above, is “Winston Towers 1.2 miles.” While one can easily walk to Winston (some refer to it as Weinstein) Towers on a Shab-bat to visit friends, one can also live in Winston Towers and belong to our Shul. If a person enjoys living in a fishbowl Jewish existence, they can do so while being a seven-day-a-week LJCAGBI Jew. Fishbowl or No Fishbowl? Your Choice. (3) Great Diversity in Our PopulationThe composition of our LJC AGBI membership, is very similar to Chicago Orthodox Shuls of the first half+ of the 20th century. I make this statement based upon conversations with my Zayde, Rabbi Elcho-nan Pesach Gordon - - Of Blessed Memory, and my father – Rabbi Nathan Gordon – May He Live And Be Well! - - both of whom served as the spiritual leaders of Orthodox Shuls during that era. Not only do we have “fully-observant” Jews among our members, but those who are not as observant as well. With rare exceptions, the membership of today’s Chicagoland Orthodox synagogues is comprised almost entirely of “fully-observant” Jews. There is something to be said about diversity in Shul populations, as it provides a forum to foster tolerance as well as a comfortable environment for people to grow spiritually in a non-pressured manner. (4) Staying PowerUnmatched by any community in Chicago, we have a Shul that not only has founding members (with ten-ures surpassing 50 years) still active today, but a spiritual leader, Rabbi Joel Lehrfield, PhD., who still takes an active role in his Emeritus capacity. Such staying power, signifies stability, which, unfortunately is a rare commodity in contemporary American synagogue life.In addition to these distinctions, our LJC AGBI Shul community offers such amenities as being centrally-located in an area embraced by an Eruv. We are also a full-service Shul offering: (1) seven-days-per-week Minyanim; (2) a full schedule of on-going classes of great substance (Talmud, Torah, Halakha, Hebrew

Continued on page 5

{ Mazel tov to Max & Edith Sokol on the Bar Mitzvah of their great grandson, Ethen, and the engagement of their grandson, Michael.

{ Mazel tov to Sharlene & Mort Zelickman on the engagement of their granddaugh-ter, Ashira Weiner (daughter of Lori & David Weiner).

{ Mazel tov to Dr. Ron Ganellen & Natalia Pascal on the graduation of their daughter Rebecca from Bard College.

{ Mazel tov to Wini Weisman on the gradu-ation of her granddaughter, Sydney Weisman, from Jones College Prep. She will be attending Univ. of Michigan in the Fall.

{ Mazel tov Henry & Sue Kalter on the graduation of their son Garren from Highland Park High School. He will be attending Clark Univ. in Wooster, MA.

{ Mazel tov to Helen Rosenberg on her many family graduations: her grandson, Jona-than Blake Chaikin, from the Univ. of Southern California; her granddaughter Cameron Isabel Chaikin from Highland Park High School—she will be attending Denver Univ.; and Sage Mandel Rosenberg from Highland Park High School—he will be attending the Univ. of Arizona.

SPEEDY RECOVERY

R Irwin GothelfR Dr. Howard VernofR Dr. Barry Baylis

Condolences

Dora Gams Elizabeth Katz Robert Kochman Gladys Naiman Michael Rothman

language, davening, etc.); blockbuster community programs of the highest quality including: our Yom HaS-hoah program, the Judge Gerald Bender Memorial Jewish Legal Seminar, community outreach programs, and a Jewish movie series; & (3) a beautiful, well-maintained building. We are, indeed, the Real Deal!Finally, we have a rich history of an institution that – under Rabbi Lehrfield’s leadership – has impacted upon the lives of so many Jews, many of whom today are community leaders in the Diaspora and Israel. I’m convinced that much of this success is due to Rabbi Lehrfield’s tolerant and heimishe approach to people and life. It is often said that a people reflect their leader. This certainly is the case at LJC AGBI. So why aren’t we growing? The answer, I feel, is that we’ve had the luxury for many years of being able to survive (and thrive) while operating basically “in automatic.” Now as our founding population ages, we are unfortunately contracting. We can longer afford to drive in automatic. We must be more ag-gressive and innovative in attracting new members and finding additional sources of revenue. Since we are not located in a declining neighborhood and have all that we do going for us (see above), I am confident that we can thrive once again. It is important that we do all do that we can to ensure the continued growth of our beloved Shul. As al-ways, I solicit your input regarding my remarks. One easy task that I ask of all of you: Brag about our Shul to others. Tell them (i.e., your children, grandchildren, friends, acquaintances, etc.) about all of our Shul’s many virtues (ma-ah-les). Invite them to a Minyan, a program, a class. The best way to grow a Shul is by word-of-mouth from satisfied congregants.

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Schedule for Daily/Shabbat Services/Candlelighting

JULY 2017/5777 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:50pm Shabbat Ends: 9:13pm

2 S: 8:30am M/M: 8:10pm

3 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:50pm M/M: 8:10pm

4 S: 8:30am RGS: 7:50pm M/M: 8:10pm

5 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:50pm M/M: 8:10pm

6 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:50pm M/M: 8:10pm

7 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 8:09pm

8 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:45pm Shabbat Ends: 9:11pm

9 S: 8:30am M/M: 8:05pm

10 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:45pm M/M: 8:05pm

11 Fast-17th Tammuz Fast Begins: 4:13am S: 6:45am M/M: 7:55pm Fast Ends: 9:09pm

12 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:45pm M/M: 8:05pm

13 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:45pm M/M: 8:05pm

14 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 8:06pm

15 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:40pm Shabbat Ends: 9:07pm

16 S: 8:30am M/M: 8:00am

17 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:40pm M/M: 8:00pm

18 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:40pm M/M: 8:00pm

19 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:40pm M/M: 8:00pm

20 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:40pm M/M: 8:00pm

21 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 8:01pm

22 S: 9/9:15pm M/M: 7:35pm Shabbat Ends: 9:02 pm

23 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:55pm

24 S: 6:30am RGS: 7:35pm M/M: 7:55pm

25 S: 7:00pm RGS: 7:35pm M/M: 7:55pm

26 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:35pm M/M: 7:55pm

27 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:35pm M/M: 7:55pm

28 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 7:54pm

29 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:32pm Shabbat Ends: 8:55pm

30 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:50pm

31 S: 6:45am M/M/Eichos/ Kinot: 7:50pm Fast Begins: 8:10pm

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Schedule for Daily/Shabbat Services/Candlelighting

AUGUST 2017/5777 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Tisha B’av S: 6:30am M/M: 7:30pm Fast Ends: 8:52pm

2 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:30pm M/M: 7:50pm

3 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:30pm M/M: 7:50pm

4 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 7:46pm

5 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:20pm Shabbat Ends: 8:47pm

6 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:40pm

7 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:20pm M/M: 7:40pm

8 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:20pm M/M: 7:40pm

9 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:20pm M/M: 7:40pm

10 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:20pm M/M: 7:40pm

11 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 7:37pm

12 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:15pm Shabbat Ends: 8:38pm

13 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:30pm

14 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:10pm M/M: 7:30pm

15 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:10pm M/M: 7:30pm

16 S: 7:00am RGS: 7:10pm M/M: 7:30pm

17 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:10pm M/M: 7:30pm

18 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 7:27pm

19 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 7:00pm Shabbat Ends: 8:27pm

20 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:20pm

21 S: 6:45am RGS: 7:00pm M/M: 7:20pm

22 S: 6:30am RGS: 7:00pm M/M: 7:20pm

23 S: 6:30am RGS: 7:00pm M/M: 7:20pm

24 S: 6:45pm RGS: 7:00pm M/M: 7:20pm

25 S: 7:00am M/M: 6:30pm Candle Lighting: 7:16pm

26 S: 9/9:15am M/M: 6:50pm Shabbat Ends: 8:16pm

27 S: 8:30am M/M: 7:10pm

28 S: 6:45am RGS: 6:50pm M/M: 7:10pm

29 S: 7:00am RGS: 6:50pm M/M: 7:10pm

30 S: 7:00am RGS: 6:50pm M/M: 7:10pm

31 S: 6:45am RGS: 6:50pm M/M: 7:10pm

May/June Calendar 2017Tuesday, July 4th Independence Day—office closed Tuesday, July 11th Fast of the Seventeenth of TammuzWednesday, July 19th Executive Council/Board of Directors Meeting Friday, July 21—Sat. July 22 Visiting Rabbi Weekend (see flyer enclosed)Monday, July 24th Rosh Chodesh AvTuesday, August 1st Tisha B’Av (fast begins July 31)Monday, August 7th Tu B’Av (Jewish “Day of Love”)Wednesday, August 16th Executive Council/Board of Directors MeetingTuesday, August 22nd Rosh Chodesh Elul Day 1 Wednesday, August 23rd Rosh Chodesh Elul Day 2

Current and on-going classes at LJCAGBI*LJC AGBI classes have “Open Enrollment”—feel free to attend any class at any time.

The more often you attend, the more wisdom you will gain.

(1) Sh’nayim Mik’ra v’Echad Targum v’Rashi (Monday-Thursday 15 minutes prior to Mincha). Instructor: Rabbi Gordon. This “mini-course” will examine the verses in the first Aliya of the Parashat HaShavua (Weekly Torah Portion) along with Targum Onkelos and select Rashi commentaries.

(2) Rabbi’s Shabbat Afternoon Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) Shiur (40 minutes prior to Shabbat Mincha).

(3) Hebrew Level II (Mondays 45 minutes prior to Mincha (approx 7:00 pm)) Instructor: Rabbi Gordon. For those with a basic level of competency in Hebrew reading who would like to feel more comfortable davening (reading/understanding) from the Siddur and learning traditional Jewish texts. Before each holiday, we study the rel-evant liturgy.

*Please call the Shul office as these times may be subject to change.

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LINCOLNWOOD JEWISH CONGREGATION A.G. BETH ISRAEL OFFICERS 2017/2018

PRESIDENT: Marcia Kramer VICE PRESIDENTS:

House Steven Kramer & Stuart Kalman Building Fund Henry Kalter

Ways & Means Paul Kramer Worship Dr. Dan Gutstein

Membership Louis Reiff Adult Education Jeffrey Liebling Good & Welfare Helaine Ellenby Youth Service N/A Bulletin Laurence Miller Publicity Vacant CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Anna Moscovitch RECORDING SECRETARY: Marilyn Goldman FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Harvey Redfern TREASURER: Jeffrey Light SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Steven Kramer PARLIAMENTARIAN: Louis Reiff

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shelly Auslander Lawrence Brown Aaron Goldman Gary Goodman Kari Gutstein Dr. Steven Hanus Paul Hyman Ira Lefkowitz Dr. David Marcus Joel Mazor Myron Moscovitch Joyce Sklar Dr. Michael Schreiber Dr. Joseph Silberman Aaron Shafter

PAST PRESIDENTS

Darwin Berkowitz, Ronald Cope, Mitchell Dayan, Dr. Marc Feder, Laurence Miller, Ady Rodman, Marvin Rosett, Mitchell Sandler, Marty Scharaga, Arnold Sklar, Max Sokol

Page 9

From the Catering Department We here in the Chicago area are very lucky. Over the past few years we can boast a nice selection of kosher restaurants. We have the usual sandwich or delis, good dairy (pizza) places & we also have some really nice classy meat places, where the food is not only good but served nicely in tablecloth-covered eateries. It seems like only yesterday we had one sandwich shop & a carry- out chicken place and a pizza place. It’s really nice to have a choice of good food where we can go out and celebrate in style. Some of the places are so good that friends who have no NEED choose to patronize my choices, just because the food & service are so good. I want everyone to cheer up, summer will be here soon & getting around without heavy coats & boots will be just a memory. Since I last wrote we’ve had some really lovely celebrations. When someone chooses to celebrate with our Shul family, it brings joy to everyone. We have some lovely kiddushim coming up. Everyone is welcome to share in these lovely occasions. And if you want to sponsor a kiddush, or part of a kiddush, we’re very accommodat-ing. You can add to or just sponsor a dessert. In any event, Kiddush at our Shul is the loveliest social event. Nobody wants to rush home, no matter what we serve. Please join us, you won’t be disappointed. Mazel Tov to all our graduates and their families. I’d like to give a plug to the Lincolnwood Library. Aside from the new up-to-date facilities, I now enjoy a new movie (free) once a week. They actually have three new movies a week but I do have other things to do (darn it). Now for that bit of humor: Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her parent’s nasty divorce. Her mother found the PERFECT dress and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever. One week later Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife bought the exact same dress. Jennifer asked her to please exchange it but she refused, adding, “I look like a million bucks in this dress and I’m wearing it.” Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart, I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.” A few days later they went shopping & did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion to wear it.” Her mother just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.” Now I ask you, is there a woman out there who wouldn’t enjoy this story?

Bon AppetitShirley Derdiger

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SISTERHOOD HELPS BUILDDo you have a personal announcement, simcha, thanks, congratulations or yahrtziet that you would like to share with your Shul family? Consider putting your words to work with Sisterhood Helps Build. Contact the Shul office or drop your message in the Sisterhood folder in the Shul office. Donations are $5 for your personal message.

{ In memory of my Mother, Anna Stein, whose Yahrzeit was 30 Nissan. I think of you every day. Jocelyn, Sid & David Verson

{ In memory of my Mother-in-law, Celia Lapping, for her Yahrzeit. Anita Lapping

{ Please accept my sincere thanks for the thoughtful contribution and fond wishes by my dear friends and synagogue family on the occasion of my special birthday. Cordially, Bob Markson & my dear Charlotte

{ As I conclude saying Kaddish for my Father, I want to thank Rabbi Gordon and my Shul friends for their efforts to assure Minya-nim. I am grateful for your support and kind-ness. Dr. Marc Feder

{ Thank you to all the well-wishers on the occasion of my “ascendency” to the Shul presidency. Marcia Kramer

{ Many thanks for all of the congratula-tions on the graduation of our daughter, Mol-lie, from Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. She will leaving for Israel in September on Young Judaea’s Year Course, and then return-ing to attend the University of Illinois. Our nest has never looked so empty. Paul and Marcia Kramer

{ Our most sincere appreciation to Myrna Rosenberg for all of the delicious breakfasts she has prepared for us all these years. With heartfelt thanks. The Morning Minyanaires

2017 Mother’s Day Non-Tea Party

Thanks to this year’s Donors: Shirley Derdiger, Marcia Kramer, Lynne Margolin, Barbara Schiff and Wini Weisman

Donors, Attendees, and in loving memory of those we’ve loved and admired:

T Shirley Derdiger and her guests Pam Lefkowitz & Joy Derdiger and in memory of Hilda Morse & Henrietta Derdiger.

T Marcia Kramer and her guest Debby Goodman and in memory of Rae Kramer, Ida Glickman & Tillie Goodman.

T Lynne Margolin and her guests Lauri Koretz, Lori Margolin & Lauren Margolin.

T Barbara Schiff and her guest Marissa Schiff and in memory of Sally Siegel & Lenore Schiff.

T Wini Weisman and her guests Suzanne Willner & Julie Weisman and in memory of Sadie Glassner & Ruth Weisman.

The Three Weeks An important segment of the summer is that period known as “The Three Weeks.” The period begins with the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz (July 11, 2017), ordained by the prophets to commemorate a number of tragedies that befell the Jewish people on this date (e.g. the destruction of the original tablets of G-d’s covenant by Moshe Rabbenu, the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem which was the prelude to its destruction) and concludes with the major Fast of the 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av), August 1, 2017. This particularly onerous Fast recalls the destruction of both the First Temple in 586 B.C.E. and the Second Temple in 70 C.E. During the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, marriages are not solemnized and activities of joy are diminished. Tisha B’Av is the only Fast comparable to Yom Kippur and lasts from sundown of the 8th day of Av (July 31st) to nightfall of the 9th of Av (August 1st). On the evening of the 8th of Av, worship-pers gather in the synagogue in stockinged feet or non-leather shoes as mourners do. The Book of Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah, is recited as well as numerous religious poems and elegies dealing with the privations of our people through the ages and the loss of national indepen-dence. At the morning service, as a sign of grief, Tefilin and Talitoth are not worn. Beginning eight days prior to Tisha B’Av (a period called “The Nine Days”) mourning practices are increased and all observant Jews abstain from eating meat, drinking wine, cutting their hair and swimming. May our observance of these traditions merit our seeing the joy of a rebuilt and peaceful Jerusalem.

Please get your articles in for the Shul Bulletin

If you have a program, announcement or event, please send your electronic submissions to the editor at office@ljcagbi.org or submit a hard copy to the Shul office before the deadline (September/October issue—Sunday, August 6, 2017). Please call the Shul office at 847-676-0491 for further details.

Come have a L'Chaim and socialize with us on Shabbos after davening. Everyone is welcome. Our libations are not funded by the Shul; there-fore, consider making a donation to the Kiddush Club. Send a check into the office labeled “Kiddush Club.” And join us to raise a glass...